Lawrence M. Klepner, Esq.

Lawrence Klepner graduated from Monmouth University in 1968 with a BA in Business and St. John’s Law School in 1973, where he received a JD. Upon graduation he practiced commercial law in New York City before the state and federal courts. Lawrence has been General Counsel of an electronics communications corporation and has served as a principal in several real estate ventures. In the latter part of his legal career, he was a partner in the law firm of Klepner & Cayea, where, in addition to his commercial practice, he specialized in Trusts & Estates and advised high net worth clients in various investment and financial matters.

In the early part of his career, Lawrence participated in several political campaigns as well as partnered with the late popular singer, Harry Chapin, to implement legislation that dealt with hunger and food production in the United States. By testifying before the Congress, Lawrence brought to the legislators’ attention the connection between restrictive food production policies and hunger in the country. As a result, he is credited with playing a decisive role in the passage of food production legislation.

After practicing law for 25 years, Lawrence joined the securities industry in 1998 to develop new business opportunities for UBS’s Wealth Management Division. While at the firm he advised high net worth corporate executives, families, trusts and family limited partnerships on progressive investment strategies. In addition, in his position as a UBS Vice President-Investments, he advised affluent investors on estate and retirement planning, which included principle protection portfolio strategies.

In 2002, Lawrence founded the Art of Leadership art lectures program, which has attracted thousands of enthusiastic guests since inception. Through this program he has afforded clients and the public at large with the opportunity to hear from the leadership of the art world. As a result of the Art of Leadership program, Lawrence has come to focus on providing financial advisory services to art collectors and art professionals, as well as serious art admirers.

In 2010, Lawrence joined Manhattan Ridge Advisors as a Managing Partner. At Manhattan Ridge Advisors, he provides high net worth clients with sophisticated investment advice regarding actively managed portfolios, and retirement and estate planning. He maintains a series 63 and 65 and is licensed for life and health insurance. In addition, he continues to produce the Art of Leadership art lecture series at various locations, including the British auction house, Bonhams New York.

In addition to an extensive career in law and financial services, Lawrence’s career has included active service on numerous charitable boards of directors, including:

• St. Mary’s Foundation for Children, a funding vehicle for a hospital for disabled children-Vice Chairman
• Teach For America, Eastern Regional Board Member
• The Omega Ensemble, a New York based chamber music society, President and Board Member
• The Museum for African Art, Board Member
• Sanctuary For Families, an independent agency that provides housing, legal and social services for victims of domestic violence, Board Member and Chairman of the annual capital campaign
• The Glimmerglass Opera Company and the Asia Society, senior associations

Lawrence has been the subject of a number of published articles and has written a movie treatment about the lives of Harry Chapin and himself in politics. He lives in New York City and Quogue, New York. Some of Lawrence’s hobbies include art, golf, cooking and automotive racing.